Sreesanth breaks steady partnership

With Sri Lanka on the backfoot in the first session, opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who was joined by skipper Kumar Sangakkara, steadied the innings, playing cautious cricket in the early part.

Sri Lanka went to lunch on day four on 84 for one in 31 overs, still trailing by 249 runs. Paranavitana was on 42 from 97 deliveries, which included seven boundaries, while Sangakkara was on 22 from 62 deliveries, which included of two boundaries.

However, post-lunch, with the Lankans playing the spinners easily, S Sreesanth was introduced and the move paid off as he claimed the wicket of Paranavitana.

The left-hander was beaten by the incoming delivery from the Kerala pacer and struck plumb in the front of the stumps after a good innings of 54, after having hit eight boundaries in his 144-ball knock

Sangakkara holds fort

Captain Kumar Sangakkara led from the front with the bat with a battling century to keep Sri Lanka afloat.

With the Sri Lankan middle order failing yet again, Sangakkara, after a cautious start, rose to the occasion with a brilliant counter-attacking innings of 133 from 258 deliveries, inclusive of 19 boundaries and a six.

His wonderful rearguard action saw Sri Lanka finish the fourth day on 274 for six in 93 overs. They just need another 59 runs to avoid an innings defeat. Nuwan Kulasekara was unbeaten Sangakkara on 9 off 45 deliveries.